Ecobreves – PERU: Decentralizing Environmental Programs

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

LIMA, Dec 6 2004 (IPS) - The Metropolitan Municipal Council of Lima will ask Congress to decentralize environmental protection programs that are currently handled by the Ministry of Production. Walter Menchola, president of the capital's Economic Commission, told Tierramérica that to do so would require a reform of the law on local and regional governments.

In a survey by the Environmental Regulation Office in 35 districts of Lima and Callao, 89 percent of respondents said they considered the environmental situation to be serious and 60 percent said they would be willing to pay a municipal tax to protect air and water quality, and to improve waste collection and management.

“Environmental protection does not depend only on regulations imposed from above. It requires the conscious and active participation of the population, which can be more effectively promoted through their local and regional authorities,” commented Menchola.